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Dragonkeeper is based on the first novel in a saga written by Carole Wilkinson, who has been involved in the whole process of making this film, which marks the beginning of a trilogy.
The plot follows the adventures of the enslaved girl named ‘Ping’ with her dragon companion ‘Long Danzi’ during an ancient imperial era. The story begins years after the union of dragons and humans succeeded in wiping out the necromancers.
Now there are almost no dragons left and the last ones are locked up by order of the emperor, jealous of their power and that of the guardians.
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One of the aims in making this animated film was to recapture the adventure storytelling of the 1980s and 1990s.
In order to achieve a faithful representation of the China of that era, Chinese co-writer Li Jianping has collaborated to ensure its success both in China and the rest of the world.
The characters embark on an emotional journey that conveys a significant philosophy: each of us is free and has the power to choose how to act.
While it might seem that in a film of this genre the computer does everything, the reality is that it all begins on paper, regardless of the technology involved.
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Both the technical team and the director have said that Dragonkeeper represents the realisation of a dream. It is like a long and challenging marathon, but with a rewarding finish.
Animation productions required six to seven years of work, and that is how long it took to bring this project to fruition.
From the beginning, they were advised by the Beijing Academy of Fine Arts. Every detail, from the fabrics to the design of the slippers and Ping's hairstyle, has been carefully checked to ensure its veracity.
This story deserves to be told through animation, as it is a fantasy, and this format allows the audience to be transported to a whole new world.
Dragonkeeper is a moving and entertaining animated film, full of valuable lessons. It is the result of a magnificent collaboration between Spain and China, bringing to life characters set in ancient China.